Karnataka is firmly headed towards another round of ‘resort politics’ – and while many are unsure how the results would go even hours after counting started on Tuesday, Kerala Tourism used the unfolding events to promote state tourism in a humorous manner.
In a cheeky tweet, the Kerala Tourism Department found a way to promote themselves while making a veiled comment at the resort politics that Karnataka’s politicians are famous for.
“After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe & beautiful resorts of God’s Own Country. #ComeOutAndPlay,” Kerala Tourism tweeted from their official Twitter handle on Tuesday.
The humorous message was put out on Tuesday evening, after speculations of ‘resort politics’ started doing the rounds, and has been met with enthusiastic replies with many appreciating the creativity of the tourism department.
After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe & beautiful resorts of God's Own Country. #ComeOutAndPlay pic.twitter.com/BthNZQSLCC
— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) May 15, 2018
Sarcasm at its best!!
— Vijay Krish'n M (@Vijay_Krish24) May 15, 2018
@Soorajt403 Kerala Tourism department is clever.
— Sacheth N Rao (@Sachethics) May 15, 2018
This time you really really nailed it
— Syedsameer88 (@syedsameer88) May 15, 2018
Rumours of “resort politics” emerged on Tuesday evening after news of the Congress party giving its full support to the JD(S) to form the government. This, after the BJP emerged as the single largest party but failed to cross the halfway mark.
Resort politics have long been a part of Karnataka’s political history, going as far back as 1984 when former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao brought MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party to Karnataka during a political rift.
It is also worth noting that the Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa himself has employed resort politics in the past. In 2011, Yeddyurappa escorted MLAs to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru seeking that Sadananda Gowda be made the Chief Minister instead of Jagdish Shettar and ironically did the same a year later in March 2012 to have Gowda removed from the post.
The Congress party in Karnataka too had previously taken independent MLA candidates to a hotel in Mumbai in 2016 to keep them from defecting to the BJP before the Rajya Sabha polls, though the candidates were brought back after much condemnation of the same.
Though the Kerala State Tourism Department falls under the category of a government department, it is widely regarded as an independent entity. Under its watch, tourism in Kerala has grown rapidly over the years and the department has taken great efforts to ensure that it is one of the best in the country. A report by Business Line stated that Kerala recorded a revenue of Rs 24,000 crore in 2013-14.